D-I-V-O-R-C-E a Four-Letter Word in the Wrong Hands

Wernersville, PAThe ongoing revelations with regard to the separation of the infamous Jon and Kate, of Jon & Kate Plus 8 fame is once again a stark reminder that divorce is happening all around us. If you haven't gone through a divorce, someone you know has been touched by family law. Your kids have friends who have to schedule visits with Daddy every other weekend.

According to the US Census Bureau the annual per capita divorce rate for the 12 months ending in June, 2007—the latest figures currently available—show an annual divorce rate of 0.34 (or 0.68 people getting divorced) for every 100 people in the population.

While divorce is always a sad end to what begins as a celebration, there are reasons why divorce is more of a factor than a generation ago. Women have their own careers now and thus, the means to support themselves. They also have their own identity apart from their husbands. When a relationship sours with no hope of reconciliation, there is generally no longer a need to feel 'forced' into staying.

However in this day and age the thought of an amicable parting of the ways without need for legal representation is all but impossible. Earlier this month British actor John Cleese finalized a divorce from his 3rd wife. His first two splits were amicable, without the need for lawyers. This time, however it cost him in excess of $20 million. "Worth every penny," he said.

With several sources of income, investments, multiple properties at play and the care and welfare of children, divorces can be complex at their most basic level. Proceeding with a divorce without qualified legal counsel is certainly not advisable.

One man tells the story of working several jobs to make ends meet, whereas his wife worked only briefly (a few months) before deciding to become a stay-at-home mom. When the kids became old enough for school, she decided not to go back to work—electing to stay at home and work on various hobbies.

Her husband was told by his lawyer that in addition to paying child support, he would likely give up the lion's share of the matrimonial home given that his wife spent so little time working outside the home—because she elected to spend all her time at home she would be deemed to be entitled to well above 50 percent of the home, if not the entire home (she had not contributed financially to it at all).

The man was told he would be ruined financially. He opted to stick it out.